FG Plans Private Sector-Driven National Carrier

The Federal Government
has said that it plans to have a national carrier that is private sector driver.
This she said will go through all the processes of establishing a strong, viable national carrier, and that the government was also considering the establishment of a maintenance and repair facility in Nigeria in order to complement the carrier.
Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos, noted that some of the challenges facing the aviation sector will be solved if there is a maintenance and repair facility in Nigeria as well as an aircraft leasing company in the country.
“We are aware that inability to lease equipment and carry out major maintenance is a huge hindrance to the growth of the sector. We are very conscious of what Nigeria is, we are conscious of the population and the market it is serving.
“It is a very interesting market for Nigeria but the absence of storng carriers and leasing companies is hampering the growth.
“If you go to Heathrow Airport or Dubai Airport, you see and experience an environment you do not want to leave. We are currently handling 15 million passengers annually but with the planned concessioning, the condition of the airports can be turned around in 24 months.
“We can handle between 70 to 100 million annually, while Lagos alone can handle 15 million if the airports are good”, he added.
The minister also noted that about 40 per cent of passengers like to transit through fantastic airports like Dubai because of facilities.